On second try, New Bern opens door for Brunch Bill

New Bern bars and dining establishments will be permitted to sell alcohol two hours earlier on Sundays, following a vote by New Bern aldermen Tuesday.

Aldermen approved an ordinance adopting SB 155, commonly known as the “Brunch Bill,” which was signed into law by Gov. Roy Cooper on June 30. The bill would allow restaurants and stores to begin selling alcohol at 10 a.m., two hours earlier than under North Carolina's “blue law”, which did not allow alcohol sales between 2 a.m. and noon on Sundays.

The Sunday liquor sales provision is contingent upon the approval of local governments, which must pass an ordinance before it goes into effect.

The issue was brought before the aldermen during a meeting at the July 11 meeting, when Alderman Jeffrey Odham made a motion for local approval of the bill. No other alderman seconded the motion, so was no vote on the motion.

During Tuesday night’s meeting, Ward 3 Aldermen E.T. Mitchell said she had received “significant” input from her constituents in support of the bill. Mitchell then made a motion to put the matter back on the table and allow sales of alcohol beginning at 10 a.m. on Sundays. Her motion was seconded by Ward 1 Aldermen Dallas Blackiston

The board approved the ordinance by a 5 to 2 vote. Aldermen Victor Taylor (Ward 2) and Bernard White (Ward 5) voted against the motion.

Taylor and White both cited their personal religious and spiritual beliefs as reasons for opposing earlier alcohol sales on Sundays.

“I know what my stand is, I know how I feel,” White said. “Let those that want to drink continue to drink, nobody’s stopping you from drinking; you’re going to drink anyhow. I disagreed last time and the people who called me, and some of them were alcoholics, they agreed with me and they said ‘You know we’re still going to be drinking, regardless of the circumstances. Twelve o’clock is good enough, people who drink can still wait that long.”

White said he wasn't concerned with the impact the bill may have on local businesses.

“We’ve got some people scared to say anything because they may lose a vote or whatever. So I lose a vote, I’m not up here to just let people push me around," said White. "If you sell alcohol and your business is losing money because you’re not selling enough alcohol then I say ‘Thank the Lord. Somebody's doing right.’ So I haven’t changed my opinion. If I had my way you wouldn’t be able to sell none of that (alcohol) on Sunday.”

Taylor said he had not received any phone calls about the bill. He said he wouldn’t allow pressure from others to compromise his “spiritual walk.”

“Those that know me know I’m going to stand for what I believe in, if I have to stand alone, and it don’t bother me,” he said. “My answer last time was no and tonight it will be the same.”

A number of communities across the state have been quick to adopt the bill. Carrboro was the first to approve Sunday morning alcohol sales. Since then, Raleigh, Atlantic Beach, Carolina Beach, Hendersonville, Mecklenburg County and Surf City have joined the party. Beech Mountain, Blowing Rock, Troutman, Banner Elk, and Wrightsville Beach have signed on as well.

In fact, New Bern's initial rejection of the brunch bill was so unusual, it received statewide attention.

The North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association backed the brunch bill and claimed 10 a.m. alcohol sales could result in an additional $25 million economic impact annually.

“This is an exciting new option for the hospitality industry. North Carolina joins 47 other states that allow some form of early Sunday sales of alcohol,” said Lynn Minges, president and CEO of NCRLA. “The passage of S.B. 155 will help restaurants to better meet the needs of their guests, particularly where tourism drives business or where local residents demand more choices."

SB 155, among other provisions, also allows distilleries to directly sell five bottle per year to customers, as opposed to the current limit of one bottle per customer per year, and allows the distillers to offer tastings at festivals and other events. Additionally, it permits breweries in dry areas to sell their products with a permit from the local government.

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